Potential Environmental Effects of Some Poultry Waste Management Techniques in Owo, Southwestern, Nigeria

376 Nigerian Research Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences 10(2) 2025 pp. 376-386 p ISSN: 2635-3342; e ISSN: 2635-3350 Original Research Article Potential Environmental Effects of Some Poultry Waste Management Techniques in Owo, Southwestern Nigeria *1Oloruntade, A.J., 2Alao, F., 3Sajo, O.S. and 4Adeyeye, J.A. 1Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria. 2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bells University of Technology Ota, Nigeria. 3College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Nigeria. 4Department of Water Resources Management and Agro-meteorology, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria. *[email protected] http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18061324 ARTICLE INFORMATION ABSTRACT Article history: Received 04 Sep. 2025 Revised 09 Oct. 2025 Accepted 10 Oct. 2025 Available online 30 Dec. 2025 The increasing growth of the poultry industry has resulted to rising levels of poultry waste, which requires adequate attention to ensure proper disposal and a safe environment. Therefore, the aim of the present research work was to assess the prevailing poultry waste management techniques and their environmental effects in Owo, Southwestern Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained using a structured questionnaire to extract information relating to poultry waste generation and management practices from respondents at some selected poultry farms. Results showed that poultry droppings and litter/bedding material constitute about 80% of the poultry waste, while others, such as feed bags/health care products, and dead birds, formed the remaining 20%. Further results also revealed that indiscriminate dumping of poultry waste was a common practice amongst farmers (80%), while some (about 60%) stated that waste, especially from slaughtering houses, was sometimes channeled to nearby farmers’ fish farms to be used as feed. However, all the respondents reported that they had never converted their waste to biogas, a modern way of poultry waste management. Consequently, it was concluded that the non-enforcement of rules and regulations regarding the establishment of poultry farms and poultry waste management led to indiscriminate siting of poultry farms and adoption of some unwholesome poultry waste management techniques that were inimical to the environment in the study area. Hence, the study recommended awareness campaigns to sensitize farmers on the inherent environmental and health effects of indiscriminate dumping of poultry wastes, adoption of modern waste management methods, amongst others. © 2025 RJEES. All rights reserved. Keywords: Poultry waste Management Environmental pollution Human health Feed supplement Biogas production 1. INTRODUCTION Increasing global population and the need to meet the requirements of animal protein in human diets necessitate increase in poultry farming. Among other favourable factors, establishment of poultry farms requires limited space, relatively small initial capital outlay with quick returns on investment, small size 377 A.J. Oloruntade et al. / Nigerian Research Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences 10(2) 2025 pp. 376-386 of labour with many activities automated and the seemingly harmless nature of birds (Muduli et al., 2019). Moreover, aside acting as protein supplements (eggs from layer and meat from broiler) to the people, the poultry industry has helped in ameliorating the problem of unemployment in many developing countries, including Nigeria (Hossain et al., 2014). However, the expansion of the industry has also brought about a concomitant increase in the waste generated by the sector with its potential negative effects on the environment (Adeoye et al., 2015; Baruwa and Omodara, 2018). This is particularly so in Nigeria where a modern waste management system is lacking in most parts of the country, such that substantial quantities of both municipal and agricultural wastes are indiscriminately disposed of to the environment (Abah et al., 2019). Indiscriminate dumping of wastes of any kind and particularly, poultry waste, is unsightly and has the potential to cause both surface and groundwater pollution (Akinro et al., 2012; Akanni and Benson, 2014). Meanwhile, studies have shown a high correlation between effective waste management on one hand and environmental quality, and healthy living on the other hand (Okiki et al., 2013; Autenrieth et al., 2016). Thus, an understanding of the prevailing poultry waste management techniques in Nigeria and particularly, Owo, may be of immense benefits to all stakeholders in the industry. Waste has been defined as anything that is no longer of any commercial value and needs to be disposed of (Abah et al., 2019). In the poultry industry, large amounts of waste comprising solid waste and wastewater are produced. The solid waste part is made of bedding materials, droppings (excreta), wasted feed, feathers, hatchery waste (dead eggs and late hatchlings, empty shells, infertile eggs), sludge, abattoir waste (offals, blood, feathers and condemned carcasses) and dead birds (Chen and Jiang, 2014; Nowak et al., 2017). On the other hand, wastewater consists of water used for processing, floor and equipment cleaning, disinfection of chicken houses and abattoirs, amongst others (Moreki and Keaikitse, 2013). The quantity of the different waste components generated depends on various factors, including the size of farm/number, type and age of birds, the housing and management systems. A recent report put the quantity of poultry production in Nigeria at 454 billion tonnes of meat and 3.8 million eggs per year with an average population of 180 million birds (FAO, 2018). Increasing quantity of waste generated may also be of tremendous benefits, considering its economic values in the areas of cost recovery when used as fertilizer on crop farms and low-priced feedstuff for farm animals (Yardimci, 2013). In this regard, there is the need to develop appropriate waste management techniques in the poultry industry for maximum economic benefits. At present, it is doubtful if there are well-defined regulation or laws guiding agricultural waste and particularly poultry waste management in Nigeria, and if they ever exist, such rules are virtually weak and ineffective. Hence, different unwholesome methods of waste management techniques have been adopted in many sectors of the economy, including the poultry industry. Such methods include indiscriminate waste dumping on land surface, burial in pits within the farm, dumping in bush and river and burning within the farm (Ogunlade et al., 2017; Abah et al., 2019). However, experience has shown that dumping of waste on land surface and bushes constitutes unsightly scenes and creates breeding surfaces for pathogenic organisms, while waste burial in pits and dumping in rivers, lead to pollution of groundwater and surface water, respectively. In addition, open burning of waste can lead to air pollution with its attendant health challenges. As being practised in many other parts of the country, in Owo Local Government Area, the poultry industry has enjoyed serious boost in terms of expansion since the inception of the present millennium. According to Agblevor et al. (2010), factors such as availability of cheap land and feed ingredients, greater awareness on the need for improved diet, better technical know-how, increased government supports, discovery of a better feed formulation and management alternatives, and need for alternative source of income, generally encourage more people to embark on poultry farming. The growth of the industry which expectedly has caused increased quantities of waste generated from the sector, has further led to the challenges of waste disposal in Owo. As there are no well-defined techniques and procedures for waste disposal, especially through the municipal waste management agency, farmers have chosen any methods that suit their purpose. Unfortunately, despite the several studies on poultry waste management in other parts of the country, literature is scarce with respect to such studies in Owo. 378 A.J. Oloruntade et al. / Nigerian Research Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences 10(2) 2025 pp. 376-386 Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess poultry waste management techniques in Owo, and the potential effects on the environment. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1. The Study Area The study area is Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. It lies on the Latitude 7⁰11´ N and longitude 5⁰33´ E. The establishments of a Federal Medical Centre, the State (Rufus Giwa) Polytechnic, the State Technical College and Achievers University, Owo, have contributed to the rapid increase in the population of the town. The National Population Commission reported the population of the town as 253,061 (NPC, 2006) and was estimated at about 341,400 in 2022. Traditionally, the people of Owo are predominantly farmers, specializing in the cultivation of cash crops, particularly cocoa, while the vast rich and fertile land is also being planted with food crops such as maize, cassava, yam, etc. This vast land also provides the opportunity for the establishment of many farm settlements across the length and breadth of the town, with poultry farming becoming a prevalent venture amongst the settlers. 2.2. Sampling Procedure and Sample Size The population for this study comprised commercial poultry farmers in Emure, Oke-Ogun, Owo, Isuada (investment area), Rufus Giwa Polytechnic poultry farm and backyard poultry farms in Owo metropolis. Sample frame for the study comprised of five (5) registered poultry farms located in Oke-Ogun (two), Emure-Ile (two), Isuada (one) and, fifteen (15) unregistered or backyard poultry farms located within the compounds of the owners. The total number of poultry farms from the randomly selected locations was twenty (20). All the 20 copies of questionnaires administered were retrieved and analysed. 2.3. Data Collection and Analysis Data for the study were obtained using a structured questionnaire assisted with interviews scheduled to take care of illiterate respondents. The instrument was validated by experts in the relevant fields. Data were collected on poultry waste management techniques adopted by farmers in Owo Area, between March and April 2022. Data collected includes demographic information such as age, gender, marital status and years of formal education. Production data such as poultry farm scale, type of poultry farm, housing system, type of poultry bird raised, types and sizes of poultry waste generated, methods of poultry waste treatment and waste disposal methods employed by farmers were also collected. In addition, the socio-economic characteristics, quantities of waste generated in poultry production and the various waste treatment methods employed were obtained. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, simple percentages, frequency distribution tables and charts. 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1. Socioeconomics and Demographic Characteristics of Poultry Farms/Farmers Results show that nineteen (19) of the respondents, representing 95% of the farmers, had more than 10 years of experience, while only one (5%) had less than 5 years of experience (Table 1). The high level of experience may have been caused by the increased awareness of the potential of the poultry industry to attract quick returns on investment, especially those who made the poultry business their primary occupation. This is, in addition to the encouragement received from the governments since the beginning of the 21st century. By implication, more than 10 years’ experience in poultry farming shows some levels of stability in the industry and adequate knowledge of the poultry farming business, which is expected to contribute significantly to their managerial skills. In addition, majority comprising sixteen (16) and 80% said they had chosen poultry farming as their primary occupation. Consequently, there are chances that more poultry farmers in the study area would be ready to take additional investment risks which may lead to further expansion of the poultry industry. Additionally, the potential is expected to enhance farmers’ commitment and focus, which are crucial to achieving profitability and efficiency in poultry business (Olumayowa and Abiodun, 2011). Furthermore, almost half of the respondents, i.e,. eleven (11) and 55%, kept mixed birds that included both broilers and layers; some reared broilers, layers and cockerel (six (6) and 30%), while few, making just two (2) and 10%, and one (5%) kept only layers and broilers, respectively. The result revealed that respondents adopted mixed management types of poultry involving the use of both battery cage and deep litter systems 379 A.J. Oloruntade et al. / Nigerian Research Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences 10(2) 2025 pp. 376-386 14 (70%), while three (3) constituting 15% each used only the battery cage and deep litter system. Ja’afarFuro and Gabdo (2010) in a previous study reported that mixed farming was more prevalently practiced amongst poultry farmers in many parts of Nigeria. Furthermore, the results also show that none (0%) of the farmers solely run the business, with two (2) amounting to 10% relying on family labour, six (6) constituting 30% using hired labour, while twelve (12) making 60% made use of the combination of both hired and family labour. This approach to poultry management is good as it may ensure diligence and efficiency in management. In terms of ownership of the poultry farmland, out of the twenty (20) respondents, fifteen 15 comprising (75%) were operating on rented plots of land, while three (3) constituting 15% leased the land and only two (2), that is 10%, owned the land they were using for poultry farm (Table 1). This implies that a substantial part of the revenue generated by the majority of the farmers may be used for settling rents and lease agreements which will generally reduce their profit. Ogunlade et al. (2017) noted that permanent ownership of poultry farms by farmers leads to high profit, given that no rent payment is required. Apart from this, the inability of the farmers to own their farmlands permanently may hinder long-term planning, reduce investment and limit production output. The breakdown of farms’ age reveals that eleven (11 and 55%) of them were below 5 years, while four (4 and 20%) of the farms had existed for between 5 and 10 years (Table 1). However, only three (3) comprising about 15% had existed for more than fifteen (15) years. This implies that most poultry farms in the study area were still young in operation. The age of poultry farms may significantly contribute to the amount of waste accumulated and the possibility of soil and water pollution in the environment. The high percentage (90%) of respondents who kept farm records was not unexpected due to the high literacy level amongst the respondents. This implies that majority of the respondents in the study area were fully aware of the usefulness of farm records keeping in making informed management decisions that may help to maintain or improve profitability in their poultry business. Moreover, record keeping is good for the performance evaluation of the poultry farms and can form the basis of assessment of farmer’s eligibility for loan acquisition. In terms of the size of the poultry farms, all of them had between 1000 and 300 birds, indicating that they are medium scale farms. 3.2. Classes and Extent of Waste Generated Of the twenty (20) farms, seventeen (17) which makes 85% generated poultry droppings (PD) to a large extent (LE), three (3) amounting to 15% to a small extent (SE) and none (0%) to no extent (NE), respectively (Figure 1). The LE of waste generated through PD is not surprising, given that a greater number of the respondents mixed broilers and layers that are usually fed ad-libitum in their farms which must have caused a high rate of animal droppings. Litter/bedding materials (LBM) were also generated by 17 (85%) to a large extent, 3 (15%) to a small extent and 0 (0%) to no extent. Generally, LBM usually constitutes a large component of waste generated in most poultry houses, especially in Nigeria where wood shavings and saw dusts which get easily soaked up are commonly used, perhaps due to low cost (Abah et al., 2019). Comparable results have also been reported in previous studies (Ma et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2023). Moreover, LE (7 and 35%) of waste was generated from dead birds (DB), with 13 (65%) respondents generated to a SE waste from DB, while there was none (0%) of the respondents who did not generate waste from DB either to LE or SE. This shows that cases of dead birds are prevalent in the study area. The cases of wasted feed (WF) and broken/rotten eggs (DRE) were similar to that of DB and, it is not completely strange, because wasting of feeds and broken eggs are unavoidable occurrences in poultry production. However, SE (16 and 80%) of waste was generated from damaged crates (DC), with 4 (20%) respondents generating waste from DC, while there was none (0%) respondent with LE of waste generated through DC. This may suggest that majority of the farmers were more careful during packing eggs into crates and their subsequent transportation from the poultry houses. Waste generation from feed bags/health care products (FBHP), wastewater from slaughtering house (WWSH), wastewater from poultry house disinfection (WWPD) were 70%, 30% and 0% (LE, SE and NE), 0%, 45% and 55% (LE, SE and NE), (LE), and 25%, 65% and 10% (LE, SE and NE), respectively. In all, poultry droppings litter/bedding material, feed bags/health care products, and dead birds were the most generated poultry wastes in the study area. WWSH was to no extent generated, because many of the farmers were not involved in the processing of the birds before sale. 380 A.J. Oloruntade et al. / Nigerian Research Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences 10(2) 2025 pp. 376-386 Table 1: Characteristics of the farms Item Variable Frequency Percentage 1. Farming experience (Years) Below 5 1 5 5-10 5 25 11-15 5 25 16-20 3 15 21-25 4 20 26 and above 2 10 Total 20 100 2 Primary occupation Poultry 16 80 Other 4 20 Total 20 100 3. Types of Birds Reared Broiler only 1 5 Layers only 2 10 Cockerel only - - Broiler, layers and cockerel 6 30 Broiler and layers 11 55 Layers and cockerel - - Total 20 100 4. Management types of Poultry Battery cage 3 15 Deep litter 3 15 Both 14 70 Total 20 100 5. Labour Type Self - - Family 2 10 Hired 6 30 Combination 12 60 Total 20 100 6. Ownership of Land Rented 15 75 Leased 3 15 Owned 2 10 Total 20 100 7. Age of Farm (Years) Below 5 11 55 5-10 4 20 11-15 2 10 16-20 1 5 21-25 2 10 26 and above - -- Total 20 100 8. Record keeping Yes 18 90 No 2 10 Total 20 100 381 A.J. Oloruntade et al. / Nigerian Research Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences 10(2) 2025 pp. 376-386 Figure 1: Classes and extent of waste generated 3.3. Poultry Waste Management Techniques Practiced by Farmers The results revealed that 80% of the respondents agreed that poultry waste was always dumped around the farm site and sometimes (55%) used as farmyard manure (Table 2). In addition, it was also discovered that dumping poultry waste around the farm and free giving to the public for crop farming were ranked first and second, respectively. Comparative results were obtained by Moreki and Keaikitse (2013) in a study carried out in Botswana in which most of the respondents disposed poultry wastes by giving it away to crop farmers to use in their arable fields. Burying of dead birds in pits near the farms was never done and most of the dead birds were never thrown into a nearby bush as this can contaminate the environment, but it was discovered that half of the respondents (50%) confirmed that dead birds were sometimes burnt inside an incinerator on the farm, apart from feeding them to animals such as dogs (10%). About 95% of the farmers also confessed that dead birds were sold or sometimes given freely to interested members of the public or interested workers of the poultry farms. Dumping poultry waste around the farm, nearby bush and feeding to animals such as dogs had a positive significant relationship to constraints faced by respondents in poultry waste management practices (Ogunlade et al., 2017). This is because most of the waste dumped in the nearby bush and around the farm may further pose some environmental problems to the birds, poultry workers and the public through air pollution. The present result conflicts with that of Moreki and Keaikitse (2013) who reported that most poultry farmers in Botswana disposed of their dead birds through burial and composting. The use of poultry waste as farmyard manure was observed as one of the waste disposal techniques employed by the respondents. Muduli et al. (2019) had reported that application of poultry waste to crop soil increased the organic matter, activities of soil microorganism and improved nutrients uptake by plants. Channelling poultry waste into nearby streams or rivers was sometimes practised by 55% of the farmers, while 20% did same always. In a related manner, while 20% of the farmers always channeled their slurry wastes from their poultry houses into their farms for irrigation, about 60% of them sometimes used the method. Meanwhile, the two methods may be dangerous to the healthy living of both human and aquatic lives, as they may lead to aquatic pollution and food crops contamination (Akanni and Benson, 2014; Akporube et al., 2023). Furthermore, selling poultry waste to fish pond owners to be used as fish ingredient was sometimes done by 60% of the respondents while the rest 40% never did. This practice appears as an environmentally friendly techniques if the waste is appropriately treated before use and may help the poultry farmers to recover part of their running cost. Unfortunately, despite the benefits derivable from the use of poultry wastes as a poultry feed ingredient when dried and their use for biogas generation may be, all the poultry farmers in the study area responded that they had never adopted the method. Similar to the result of Adeoye et al. (2015), all the respondents agreed that their wastes were never converted to biogas as the method was strange to them and required high level of technical know-how. Poultry manure is very rich in 382 A.J. Oloruntade et al. / Nigerian Research Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences 10(2) 2025 pp. 376-386 organic matter which can be converted into bioenergy with appropriate technology and, therefore should be embraced by the farmers (Akporube et al., 2023). Table 2: Techniques of poultry waste disposal practised Items Variables Frequency Percentage 1. Poultry waste is dumped around the farm Always 16 80 Sometimes - - Never 4 20 Total 20 100 2. Poultry waste is used as farmyard manure Always 9 45 Sometimes 11 55 Never - - Total 20 100 3. Poultry waste is given free to the public to be used for farming Always - - Sometimes 17 85 Never 3 15 Total 20 100 4. Dead birds are buried in a pit near the farm Always 5 25 Sometimes 3 15 Never 12 60 Total 20 100 5. Dead birds are thrown into a nearby bush Always 4 20 Sometimes - - Never 16 80 Total 20 100 6. Dead birds are burnt inside an incinerator on the farm Always 8 40 Sometimes 10 50 Never 2 10 Total 20 100 7. Dead birds are given to animals such as dogs etc. to eat Always 2 10 Sometimes 18 90 Never - - Total 20 100 8. Dead birds are sold or given freely to interested members of the public Always 1 5 Sometimes 19 95 Never - - Total 20 100 9. Dead birds are given freely to interested farm workers Always - - Sometimes 18 90 Never 2 10 Total 20 100 383 A.J. Oloruntade et al. / Nigerian Research Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences 10(2) 2025 pp. 376-386 Table 2: Techniques of poultry waste disposal practiced (cont’d) Items Variables Frequency Percentage 10. Poultry waste is sun-dried and burnt Always - - Sometimes 10 50 Never 10 50 Total 20 100 11. Poultry waste is sun-dried and sold to be used for farming Always 5 25 Sometimes 12 60 Never 3 15 Total 20 100 12. Poultry wastes are channeled into nearby stream or river through open carnal Always 4 20 Sometimes 11 55 Never 5 25 Total 20 100 13. Slurry waste is channeled into farmers farms for irrigation Always 4 20 Sometimes 5 25 Never 11 55 Total 20 100 14. Poultry waste is channeled to farmer’s fish farm to be used as feed Always 6 30 Sometimes 12 60 Never 2 10 Total 20 100 15. Poultry waste is sold to fish pond owners to be as fish ingredient Always - - Sometimes 12 60 Never 8 40 Total 20 100 16. Poultry waste is dried and used as part of poultry feed ingredient Always - - Sometimes - - Never 20 100 Total 20 100 17. Poultry waste is used for the generation of bio-gas Always - - Sometimes - - Never 20 100 Total 20 100 3.4. Methods of Poultry Waste Treatment Results showed that six (6) representing 30% of the respondents stated that they always treated their poultry waste with chemicals before their final disposal, while eight (8) and six (6) indicating 40% and 30%, respectively, confessed that they sometimes and never used the method (Table 3). The result agrees with that of Abah et al. (2019) who reported that about 90% of the respondents in a study conducted in Makurdi, 384 A.J. Oloruntade et al. / Nigerian Research Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences 10(2) 2025 pp. 376-386 Benue State, Nigeria, never treated their poultry waste before disposal. Similarly, Baruwa and Omodara (2018), had also found that only 14% of the farmers in urban areas of Osun State used chemicals to control the odour emanating from their poultry wastes, before disposal. Chemical treatment of poultry waste has the capacity to reduce bulkiness and odour, however, the method may have appeared unpopular amongst the farmers probably because of lack of knowledge and the additional cost it portends. Moreover, only 10% of the respondents admitted that they sometimes burnt their poultry waste, while the rest 90% never adopted the method (Table 3). While burning of waste helps to reduce the waste and enhances disposal, the methods add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and, therefore, contributes to climate change, apart from contributing to air pollution through the soot and unpleasant odour released. Table 3: Methods of poultry waste treatment Variables Frequency Percentage Chemicals Always 6 30 Sometimes 8 40 Never 6 30 Total 20 100 Burning Always - - Sometimes 2 10 Never 18 90 Total 20 100 Combination Always 0 0 Sometimes 0 0 Never 0 0 Total 0 0 4. CONCLUSION The study investigated the various techniques of poultry waste management and their potential effects on the environment. From the study, obvious reasons to conclude that there are presently no rules and regulations guiding the establishment of poultry farms as many of them exist even within the densely inhabited parts of the town were observed. Worse still is the fact that there appears no strict enforcement of urban waste management rules and laws, if they ever exist. Accordingly, poultry farmers adopted poultry waste management techniques that suited their purpose, without minding whether they are environmentally friendly or not. Findings also showed that the commonest and most popular waste management techniques amongst the farmers were dropping around the farm and the use of waste as farmyard manure. Dropping of poultry waste around farms constitutes environmental pollution and endangers human health and therefore, should be avoided. Regrettably, none of the farmers have found it necessary to embrace the use of modern technology, including waste conversion to biogas, rendering, vermicomposting, biodiesel production, controlled incineration, etc., in poultry waste management (Muduli et al., 2019). Therefore, the following recommendations are found useful: i. there is the need to intimate the farmers with the danger inherent in the use of unwholesome poultry waste management techniques; ii. farmers should be made to be aware of the various beneficial uses of poultry waste, which may include selling, conversion to feed supplements and biogas production. To achieve this, the Poultry Farmers’ Association (PFA) may organize trainings and workshops to help their members; iii. enactment and enforcement of rules and regulations guiding the establishment of poultry farms to avoid dangerous proximity to residential areas should be pursued; iv. there should be effective collaboration between waste management agencies and poultry owners for the purpose of waste collection and management, using pay-as-you-generate rule; v. poultry farmers, especially those clustered around the same vicinity within the study area may come together for the purpose of joint acquisition and ownership of land where poultry waste can be treated before disposal or further uses; and